b1ueskyz
1 post
Jun 26, 2008
10:18 PM
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Haven't switched to the Marine Band yet. The smoother finish on the Pro slides better against my lips and the plastic comb construction seems to be more airtight, but...
Adam showed that you can just gently pry the top and bottom cover off the Marine Band to get inside and adjust. Does anyone know the best way to open up a Pro? At $35, I don't want to ruin it.
Thanks.
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wheezer
9 posts
Jun 27, 2008
8:22 AM
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Undo the end top plate screws and nuts. With the top and bottom cover plates removed you will see the screws holding the reed plates.
Undo these and the harp is stipped.
I also like the pro harp, the older ones with the recessed reed plates. I think that they have a much fatter tone than the Marine Band. I much prefer the plastic comb to the wooden ones.
I think it's all down to personal preferences.
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b1ueskyz
2 posts
Jun 30, 2008
6:33 PM
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Thanks for the guidance. Unfortunately the Pro I want to open up must be a bit older. It's from before the modular era. I think it was a purchase to support my 2nd or 3rd attempt to learn this thing many years ago. (The price sticker on the case says $19.95 - that should be a clue!) I just got a new one from Amazon and it looks and feels quite a bit different. And it bends so much easier. I guess my old harps are just too old.
The problem I was going to try to fix was that I can bend my 1/2/4 holes ok but the 3 hole bends the first half step then chokes and if I pull harder on it it sounds like it's chattering between the 1 1/2 step and 1 step bends uncontrollably. Don't know if it's me or an old harp. But since the new Pro bends so much easier I'm thinking maybe its not me after all. HA!
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genesis
Guest
Jun 30, 2008
9:20 PM
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You too have been bitten by the new Knittlenger profiles.
I have been plauged with this problem since last Feb. I guess the profiles are not really new. I have been told by a Hohner tech that they have been making them for several years, but they just started using them in the last year.
I am always trying to find old stock. I have had luck using turbo tape about 50% of the time. Or wax. You might also try putting a little more curve near the free end, but NOT MUCH though. Too much will kill the response. I believe this is the very reason a few customizers have retired or wont touch the new profiles. Me included, only old stock.
Unless of course, I can fix it with tape. I am pretty positive the thinner profile stall issue is cause by lateral twist in the reed. A tech in Germany told me Hohner changed due to so many broken reed problems.
I would almost be willing to risk choking on a broken reed and have all notes on the harp available to me , than a harp that last without all the notes.
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Genesis
Guest
Jun 30, 2008
9:33 PM
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Sorry,
I forgot to say, check the date on the top reed plate.
It will be upside down and hard to see. Use a penlight.
Since you said its an older harp. How much older?
You usually can coax the the reed down all the way but as soon as you use any hard pressure or a deep guttural warble your out of luck. And trying to do that with low pressure is very irritating, to me at least.
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